English edit

Etymology edit

First attested from 1827. Back-formation from enthusiasm, from Ancient Greek ἔνθεος (éntheos, possessed by a god), from ἐν (en, in) + θεός (theós, god)

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Verb edit

enthuse (third-person singular simple present enthuses, present participle enthusing, simple past and past participle enthused)

  1. (intransitive) To show enthusiasm.
    • 1970, Julian Huxley, Memories:
      a splendid performance, and I was enthusing over it
  2. (proscribed, sometimes humorous) To cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm or to be enthusiastic.
    The novelty of the film enthused the audience.
    • 2020 June 3, Sam Mullins OBE discusses with Stefanie Foster, “LTM: a new chapter begins at 40”, in Rail, page 54:
      One of the museum's greatest strengths is its focus on educating and enthusing children from an early age, and it's something that Mullins is especially proud of.

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